LANCE Armstrong admitted to “a difficult couple of weeks” at his first public appearance since the publication of the scathing United States Anti-Doping Agency’s report.

LANCE Armstrong admitted to “a difficult couple of weeks” at his first public appearance since the publication of the scathing United States Anti-Doping Agency’s report.

USADA’s 1,000-page report said the Texan and his US Postal Service team ran “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”.

Armstrong didn’t contest USADA’s charges in August, and they stripped the 41-year-old of all results since 1998, including his record seven Tour de France triumphs from 1999 to 2005, and banned him for life.

Much of the report’s detail came from testimony of 11 of Armstrong’s former team-mates, who were given six-month bans. The International Cycling Union is set to react to the report tomorrow.

Armstrong appeared at the 15th anniversary celebration of his charity Livestrong on Friday night and told the 1,700-strong crowd: “I am truly humbled by your support.

“It’s been an interesting couple of weeks. It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for me and my family, my friends and this foundation.”

Asked how he was faring, he said: “I say, ‘I’ve been better, but I’ve also been worse’.”

Armstrong’s appearance came in the week he was dropped by sponsors Nike, Budweiser brewers Anheuser-Busch, and Trek bikes.

Oakley are considering their position while Rabobank has announced they will no longer sponsor cycling after 17 years in the sport.

This week, he stepped down as Livestrong chairman so the fall-out does not affect the charity he set up in 1997, though he is still a director.

He insisted he would keep fighting on behalf of Livestrong, saying: “We will not be deterred. We will continue to serve the 28 million around the world that need us the most.”

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THE name Lance Armstrong is to be expunged from the record books after cycling’s world governing body yesterday accepted a recommendation to strip the American of his seven Tour de France titles and ban him for life.

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Lance Armstrong has stepped down as chairman of his cancer charity, Livestrong, and has been dropped by sponsor Nike as the fallout from the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s report into doping continues.

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